Why should I brush my teeth twice a day and get them professionally cleaned every six months?
In part one on this subject, we have seen that by simply not brushing teeth, not getting them checked and professionally cleaned routinely begins gum disease. The signs of gum diseases are bleeding, swelling and reddening of the gums. Gums can easily be restored to health by implementing brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and the six-monthly professional.
Now let’s say that there is no change in the oral habits, what will follow is progression of gum disease to involve the jawbone, the bone around the teeth will be eroded over time. Once the seal formed by the gum around the tooth is broken, a pocket is being created which now harbours bacteria. The bacteria lives and release toxins, in other words this has now become an infection. Gum disease is very silent in that it does not cause any pain as it progresses, normally when pain arises, its often too late that teeth may need to be extracted to relive one from pain. Once gum diseases have reached the jawbone your dentist will refer you to a gum specialist.
Tooth and bone can be likened to a steel post anchored the ground with concrete, the steel post represent the tooth and concrete represent the jaw, if the concrete is slowly chiseled away from the steel what do you think will happen eventually? The steel post will fall off from the ground. Similarly, bacteria in the pocket acts like chisel and eat away the bone around the teeth over time eventually teeth fall of from the mouth. That is why your dentist often recommend coming every six months for your teeth to be checked and cleaned, the idea is to prevent occurrence of gum disease.
We have learned that without teeth brushing teeth twice a day, not flossing and visiting dentist regularly gum disease is inevitable. Gum diseases can range from bleeding and swelling the gums (gingivitis), to loss of bone support around the teeth (periodontitis). Gingivitis is reversible through improving brushing and home care, the gums can be restored to health quickly. On the other hand, periodontitis is irreversible, once bone is lost its gone. However, depending on the severity of periodontitis teeth and gums can be restored to health.